Dental crown, inlay, and bridge work



1935 H. SPIRO 2,010,611 Q DENTAL CROWN, INLAY AND BRIDGE WORK Original Filed Sept. 8, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q77" 6 270, @Z%W/ %T% ZZZ% Aug. 6, 1935. H SPIRO 2,010,611

DENTAL CROWN, 'INLAY AND BRIDGE WORK Original Filed Sept. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 6, 1935. SPIRO DENTAL CROWN, INLAY AND BRIDGE WORK Original Filed Sept. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet Iq Patented Aug. 6, 1935 V DENTAL CROWN, INLAY, AND BRIDGE WORK Harry Spiro. Chicago, Ill., assignor toDental Research Corporation, Cook County, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 8, 1932, Serial No. 632,203 Renewed February 1, 1935 Claims. (01. 32-6) This invention relates to improvements in the In the accompanyingdrawings, Figures 14 to art of dentistry and, more especially, to crown, 16, inclusive; show the bridge construction as apinlay and bridge work. A plied to an upper incisor and bicuspid, the bridge Among the features of my invention is an imbeing supported by a three-quarter crown on each proved bridge construction employing adapters end. In these drawings Figure 14 is a view in on the abutment teeth, each of said adapters being rear elevation; Fig. 15 is a view taken as indifitted onto its supporting tooth by sliding mo'vecated by the line I5 of Fig. 14; and Fig. 16 is a ment substantially in line with the axis of the view taken as indicated by the line I6 of Fig. 14. tooth. The adapters have outer wall surfaces i i 10 1 which are parallel to each other and carry the constmctwn of Figures 1 to m 10 abutment pieces of thebridge which are fitted on a I shall first describe my invention as disclosed in to them simultaneously by sliding movement in Figs. 1 to 13,1nclusive. As here shown, It may inone direction. In other words, the adapters serve dicate a lower molar and I l, a cuspid; The molar to parallel all the abutmentswhich support the is shown as somewhat tilted. It may indicate, for.

bridge. Such paralleling is accomplished by buildexample, a third molar tilted so that its crown lies 15 ing up the tooth structure'with the adapters substantially in the position of a second molar. rather than by cutting it away. There is'thus The abutment pieces or bridge attachments may provided maximum retention with minimum de-' be a crown on themolar and a three-quarter struction of tooth structure or pulp. The adaptcrown on the cuspid. The bridge may be designed ers also afford protection to the abutmentteeth. to carry three ponticsor artificial teeth. Fig. 1 2

In the above description I have referred to shows the lingual faces of the teethafter the same adapters for use in making crowns and inlays. have been prepared to receive the crowns. 12 It is to be understood that in both such cases the may indicate the gum. I crown or inlay may be employed alone or used as I The crown of the molar I0 has been prepared 5 an abutment piece or attachment for one end, or with outer parallel wall surfaces ID, W which other portion, of a bridge structure. are substantially parallel with the axis of the Other features and advantages of my inventooth. 'In other words, the tooth It has been pretion will appear more fully as I proceed with my pared in the usual manner to receive a single specification. I crown without regardtto bridge construction.

In the accompanying drawings,.Figuresl to 13, The lingual and proximal surfaces of the cuspid 30 inclusive, illustrate my improved bridge conhave likewise been provided with parallel wall struction as applied to a lower molar and cuspid, surfaces H II substantially parallel with the carried by a crown on the molar and a threeaxis of the tooth together with the undercut quarter crown on the cuspid. In these drawings grooves I l as such a tooth is ordinarily prepared 5 Figure l is a View in rearrelevation of a molar to receive a three-quarter crown. and cuspid showing the same prepared to receive [3 indicates an adapter for the molar which my improved bridge construction; Fig. 2 isa simihas a cavity with parallel inner wall surfaces I3 lar View in top plan; Fig. 3 is a view similar to [3 adapted to fit against the surfaces Ill of the Fig. 1 showing the abutment teeth with the adaptabutment tooth ID. A similar adapted I4 is proers installed; Fig. lis a View similar to' Fig. 3 in videdfor the tooth II. This adapter is likewise 40 top plan; Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by privided with a cavity having parallel inner wall the line 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view taken as in surfaces I i I l adapted to fit against the surdicated by the line 6 of Fig. 3;Fig. 7 is a view' faces II on the tooth. The adapter islikewise taken as indicated by'the line 1 of'Fig. 6; Fig. 8 provided with inwardly extending flanges M fit-,

is a diagrammatic View similar to Fig. 1 showing ting into the grooves i l in the tooth. 45 the direction of movement in fitting the adapters Fig. 8 will show how the adapters l3 and 14 are on the abutment teeth; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic fitted onto the tooth. The arrows indicatethe view similar to Fig. 3 showing the direction of direction of movement and it will be seen that each movement in fitting the bridge on the adapters; adapter is placed on its tooth by movement sub Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the bridge restantially inline'with the axis of the tooth. 50 moved and without the adapters; Fig. 11 is a view The outer walls of the adapters l3 and M are similar to Fig. 3 showing the bridge in place; Fig. also provided withparallel surfaces, such surfaces 12 is a view taken as indicated by the line l2 of on one adapter being parallel with those on the Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a view takenas indicated other. These surfaces on the adapter l3 are in- 5 by the line [3 of Fig. 12; I cheated by 13 and on the adapter M by M The is contemplated that the adapters l3 and I l be "the abutment pieces 15 and it may be finally parallelism of all these surfaces is well shown in Fig. 9.

l5 indicates the abutment piece or bridge at tachment at one end of the bridge adapted to be supported by the molar and it indicates the abutment piece at the other end of the bridge. The abutment piece i5 is made in the shape of a cap in the manner of a crown and provided with a cavity to receive the adapter l3. This cavity is provided with parallel wall surfaces E5 to fit over the surfaces E3 of the adapter. The abutment piece 56 is made in the manner of a three-quarter crown and likewise provided with the usual cavity having parallel inner wall surfaces lfi adapted to fit against the wall surfaces I 4 of the adapter [4. The adapter M is provided with undercut grooves M (see Fig. 7) which receive the inwardly projecting flanges Ni on the outer member or cap.

The abutment pieces l5 and it are connected by any suitable bridge construction H carrying the pontics or artificial teeth 98, is. Since the surfaces W and l of the adapters are parallel, it will be se'en that the bridge may be completed and fastened to the abutment pieces before being placed in position. It may then be placed by movement in one direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 9, so that both abutment pieces will simultaneously be fitted onto the adapters.

In the bridge construction as referred to, it

first placed on the teeth, as shown in Fig. 3. These adapters are preferably made out of relatively soft metal, for example, burnishable gold. Being of soft gold, they are less injurious to the tooth structure with which they are in contact than if made of harder or alloyed gold. Being made of soft metal, they can also be perfectly fitted to the teeth by burnishing. With the bridge structure removed, complete access is afforded'to these adapters and substantially perfect adaptation and angulation can be obtained. The gingival edge It of the adapter can be burnished entirely around the tooth. Likewise,

the 'gingival 'edge [4 of the adapter M can be burnished close to the tooth through its entire extent. It is 'to be understood, of course, that as the adapters l3 and M are finally put in position on the'teeth, suitable cement (not shown) may be employed to hold them in position; and

cemented on the adapters.

The adapter I3 is preferably provided with a shoulder 13 and the lower edge of the member l5'is somewhat flattened, as indicated by I5 to fit against this shoulder. Likewise, the adapter M is provided with a shoulder Hi to receive the lower flattened edge 19 of the three-quarter crown.

The construction of Figures 14 to 16, inclusive This construction does not require a detailed explanation, since the principles are substantially' the same is employed in the bridge shown in Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive. As here shown, however, there is illustrated bridge between an upper incisor and bicuspid, a three-quarter crown being employed at each end of the bridge. The teeth are somewhat tilted or angularly related, or out of parallel with each other. Here, again, the outer wall surfaces of each tooth are paralleled with respect to the axis of the tooth itself to receive an adapter; and the outer walls of the adapters are provided with surfaces parallel to each other to receive simultaneous mounting of the abutment pieces or bridge attachments which carry the ends of the bridge.

As here shown, the incisor is indicated by 2) and the bicuspid by 2! l. 2l3 indicates the adapter on the incisor and 254, the adapter on the bicuspid. The three-quarter crown on the incisor is indicated by M5 and the three-quarter crown on the bicuspid is indicated by 256, such crowns forming abutment pieces which carry the bridge 2H with the three pontics 258. The incisor 210 is provided with parallel wall surfaces E'lfi to receive the adapter 2:13 which has (to-operating surfaces. The adapter is mounted on the tooth by movement in a line substantially parallel to the axis of the tooth. In the same manner, the bicuspid is provided with surfaces 2H parallel to its root to receive the adapter 2M. The adapters 2E3 and 2M are provided with outer surfaces 2l3 and 2 M parallel to each other so that the abutment pieces 2E5 and M6 may be simultaneously fitted thereon as' the bridge is put in position. It is to be understood that the adapters and abutment pieces arefinally cemented in place.

In speaking of the axis of the tooth in the specification, I mean to consider the crown as substantially cylindrical and treat the axis (extended) of such cylinder as the axis of the tooth. Likewise, in the claims, in speaking of the general axis of the inner surfaces of the wall of the adapter, I considerthese surfaces as forming more or less a cylinder and adapted to fit on the cylindrical crown and consequently the general axis of these surfaces is the general axis of such cylinder. In the same way I consider the outer surfaces of the wall of the adapter as forming more or less of a cylinder so that the general axis of such surfaces is the general axis of such cylinder. I

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An adapter adapted to be fitted over the crown portion o f a tooth, said adapter having a peripheral wall with inner surfaces adapted to extend at least partially around cooperating surfaces on the crown portion of the tooth and coact therewith to assist in holding said adapter in place, said wall having outer surfaces whose general axis is angularly related to the general axis of said inner surfaces.

2. In dental bridge construction, a plurality of adapters, each having a peripheral wall with inner surfaces adapted to extend at least partially around the crown portion of an abutment tooth and held in position principally by engagement of said inner surfaces with cooperating surfaces on said crown portion, said walls on said adapters having outer surfaces parallel to each other the general axis of said outer surfaces being angularly related to the general axes of the inner surfaces of at least one of said adapters.

3. In dental bridge construction, a plurality of adapters, each having a peripheral wall with inner surfaces adapted to extend at least paris capable of many modifications.

tially around the crown portion of an abutment tooth and held in position principally by engagement of said inner surfaces with cooperating surfaces on said crown portion, said walls on said adapters having outer surfaces parallel to each other the general axes of said outer surfaces exing angularly related to the general axis of the inner surfaces of at least one of said adapters;

and a bridge with a plurality of abutment pieces adapted to be fitted onto all of the adapters simultaneously by movement in one direction after said adapters are in place on the abutment teeth, said abutment pieces having surfaces adapted to Coast with said outer surfaces on the walls of the adapters to assist in holding the bridge in place.

4. Dental bridge construction as claimed in claim 3, in which the adapters are made of softer metal than the abutment pieces.

5. Dental bridge construction as claimed in claim 3, in which the adaptersare made of softer metal than the abutment pieces, and in which i the edges of said adapters are adapted to project beyond the edges of the abutment pieces when the latter are in place.

HARRY SPIRO. 

